With the arrival of Molebo at Afura this spring, we caught up with founders Anders Leverson and Alexander Gram to hear more about their story. Although Molebo is a new brand, the skill behind it definitely isn’t. Anders’ family has been making belts in Denmark for decades, and the craftsmanship in each piece is a true testament to that. Yet, Molebo’s designs balance heritage with contemporary style and are created to reflect the fashion landscape of today.

Conversation by Connie McCaul (Marketing Communication Intern at Afura) 

Molebo was founded in 2024, making it a relatively new brand? 

Alexander: "We launched the first collection in May 2024, with a bigger launch around October/November in international stores. So yeah it’s pretty new, but the company itself is not new. Anders and his family have been making belts for three generations in Denmark. We're sitting in our office now, but we also have a factory of about 3,000 square meters. So yeah, three generations! Anders’ father, Morten established this company 35 years ago."

Anders: "The factory today is located just 200 meters from my grandparents, who started the belt making in the late 60’s! Now with Molebo, we’re trying to show the world that we are capable of doing these amazing belts and that it’s still possible to make belts in Denmark. Most people wouldn’t believe that that was a possibility."

What does Molebo do differently?

Anders: "I think it’s the opposite of what my family has done for the past years. Their goal was to create the most commercial things because it would be much easier to sell.  But in that way, we were limited a lot for the design. With the general thinking of how to design men’s belts, most of the time the belt should be black, with a very commercial buckle, and I think that’s the most boring thing. We have what we call ‘the lab’ where we make all the samples for the new collections. I have some nights where I get all these new ideas and it’s hard to fall asleep, but the next morning I can go to the factory and immediately make the prototypes."

What was it like to decide to take your family’s business in a new direction? 

Anders: “Although now we learned that it’s possible to take the business into a new direction, initially most of my family said: “You can’t do anything with only two retailers to work with”. After we launched in April, shortly after we were invited to Pitti Uomo in June and then CIFF Copenhagen and then Paris.”

So it went fast!

Anders: "Yeah it was quite fast. And now from April 2025, we’ll be in over 30 of the most amazing stores worldwide, including Afura. Nobody believed that it was possible to do it in this way and on this level, or that it would happen so fast."

I’d love to know where the inspiration came from to make the belts with the animal prints! 

Alexander: "I think for us, first of all, it’s very important to create products that can stand the test of time. It has to be relevant in your wardrobe for many years. So we want to create the best possible product in the best possible materials, and then again we want to combine this with what’s happening out there. Right now we’re seeing the whole Western thing, it’s a big trend. So we’re tapping into that, but without making products that aren’t relevant in a year or year and a half. 

The most important thing for us is to create belts that you can use as a kind of statement piece. We see so many black or grey outfits, so it’s nice to add a little pop to your outfit with the belt. And then I just love the texture. These types of belts are a nice little twist and they’re easy to incorporate into any wardrobe. It’s a bit edgy in some way, but still easy. For both men and women."

Do you have a favourite piece from Afura’s selection? 

Alexander: From my perspective, the cow print is a big favourite because it’s the first statement piece we did. Basically, after creating the first collection, featuring more classic leather belts, we decided to tap into this cow print / textured thing as well, and it became the best seller in the first season and a statement piece. So for me it’s special as well, it has all the ingredients I mentioned before -  it’s versatile, easy to dress up and down, and all that. It’s pretty much a Molebo signature."

What’s a day in the life like at Molebo? 

Alexander: "A typical day is that Anders is spending the majority of his day in production, creating most of the belts of the current collection that’s in stores now. And for me, it’s a lot of traveling these days to show the collection and concept to the world.

What’s so amazing is that we’re capable of having an idea and then going directly into production and making the prototype. So it’s a pretty unique way of working. We’re trying to tap into the same calendar as clothing brands, creating around two collections at least a year, of course with all the carryover styles but also creating some newness. No days are the same at the moment."

Have you (Anders) been involved in the craft from a young age? 

Anders: "For the last five years I’ve been working nearly full-time just making the products, so, of course, I was learning a lot from that. But from about 10 years old, I was picked up from school by my dad around once a month and we would drive around together and visit the retailers he had at the time.

So 20 years ago, I started to learn about what he was doing. He’d go to the retailers and serve them and then when he went home in the evening he made the products."

What is the design process like? 

Anders:  “It’s a combination of different perspectives. We spend quite a lot of time analysing different trends and finding the threads between the things that are happening in the current fashion landscape. Also, we focus on leather and think about what new possibilities there could be in terms of structure, texture, and colour”

Alexander: "Also, we have been making belts for many years. So there’s a big archive actually to be inspired from. Even though it’s not exact, you can see some references to what Anders’ father did back in the 90’s for example."

Anders: "Then there's a lot of times where I can be inspired by something random, it really could be anything."

And lastly, I’d love to know where the name Molebo came from!

Anders: "I have been thinking about this international project for several years, and our company is officially called Bosswik. My father is called Morten and our surname is Leverson, and so I made it Mo-Le-Bo as a tribute to my father for what he’s created all of these years."

Alexander: "I think the name is very good;  to have this historic reference to what Anders’ father and his grandfather have been doing for so many years even though it’s a new project."